Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-04
TIT SALVATION OF THE o. p.
ThAt of the Branch System Which
Fed the Main Line.

Ex-Government Director Alexander Says
Th.t of the Branch System Which
Fed the Main Line.
THE SALVATION OF THE UNION PACIFIC.
BosroN, June 2.-The official investiga.
ton of the Union Pacific Railroad affairs
was continued this morning. General E.
P. Alexander. Of Savannah, testified that
he was formerly a Government Director Of
the Union Pacific road. He was of the
opinion that the annual report Of the
company was . fair basis to work upon
concerning the relations of the branch
lines to the parent road. He had con-
cluded that the branch earnings were
about so per cent of the net earnings of
the road. He said there could be no
question in the mind of any railroad man
who was familiar with the Union Pacific
road that the existence of the branch sys-
tenn had been
IT'S SALVATION.
The matter OF adjusting rates between
branch and main lines was q difficult mat
ter to settle, and this issue needed expert
menting with before it could be satisfacto-
rily determined. From the manner in which
the matter of construction is adjusted
throughout the country, he was OF the
opinion that if there was any discriminate
ing it was against the branches. The wit
ness thought the branch lines should be
fostered as much as possible. He said the
a fear of the Central Pacific, and cordially
co-operated with them in regard to freights
which might be sent the other way.
THE PRESENT SITUATION
was damaging to the Union Pacific and the
Government and it was for the interest OF
both to adjust matters ut once. The first
step if the road is willing is let to the
security for the indebtedness and the COM
pany could afford to pay $1,8OO,OOO at
the present time. The debt will amount
to about $53, 600, 900. including the inter-
est at six per cent. Equal payments Of
81 800, 900 would pay off the debt in
about seventy years. It might be possible
to have this payment gradually increased.
If the road should happen to fail in it's
annual payments the Government could
assume charge OF the road. This would
wipe out the stock and mean death to
the management.
The Season in tho National Park.
St. Paul Pioneer Press: Hon. Charles
Gibson. from St. Louis, and of the manage
ment of the Yellowstone Park. is at the
Ryan Hotel. General Manager Walters
arrived yesterday from the Park to confer
with Mr.. Gibson on Park plans for this
year. Mr.. Gibson said of the work for the
ensuing year: 1.-The Park will open June
18th, the same date as last year, and as
early in that altitude as it can be opened ]
The prospects are for an increase of travei
this year over last, and think that our
accommodations will ~ ready by the time
t6Hf bfea t. ans 1ksSGxs tht ba tb1 sresssr
than ever before. The new railroad from
San Francisco to Portland, which will be
completed within twenty days, will bring
many tourists in also. The Interstate
Commerce law will affect the travel
some, but principally in official circles.
We will erect hotel at the Grand
canvon this season, the materials now be-
ing on the ground for it. improvements
are to be made also at the Upper and
Lower geysers. One of our greatest trou-
bles is the meanness OF Congress in it's ne
glect to make ample appropriations for
the roads needed in the park. Tourists by
the present roads constructed can only
see about one-half of the park, and not
the best half at that. We will keep up
with the work OF the government, but we
cannot build hotels where there are no
roads. There is an appropriation of $780,
900 for roads this year, and it will prob
ably be used in the completion OF roads
already under way. I have appointed B..
C. Waters, of Billings, to succeed Mr..
Strong as general manag # of the park, and
large additions are to be made to the
staging facilities: do not think that any
game was killed in the park last summer.
There were some infractions of the law,
but no more than could naturally be ex-
pected. 1t is impossible to prevent poach-
ing now and then.